2022 Midseason Awards


June 15, 2022

By Daniel Cohen, Evan Lepler, and Adam Ruffner

Ladies and gentlemen, start your arguments! 

It’s time for your friendly AUDL insiders to unintentionally alienate entire franchises with their midseason awards ballot, an endeavor that might have cursed the DC Breeze’s title hopes a year ago. But that serves as a reminder that any praise or adulation received halfway through an endeavor can be inexact and fleeting. It’s meant to honor the past, not necessarily predict the future.

Consequently, exactly midway through the 2022 season—precisely 75 of 150 regular season scheduled games have been played thus far—here are our choices for the best in the AUDL through seven weeks. 

- Evan Lepler

MVP

Ryan Osgar, New York Empire (Pictured)
Ryan Osgar was already a borderline MVP last season. His otherworldly efficiency and boosted touch numbers has made him the critical piece of the New York Empire offense this year; four throwaways on 269 throws while leading the league in scoring and yardage makes him the clear choice for midseason MVP.
—Daniel Cohen

Ryan Osgar, New York Empire
Funny how I thought he might be the O-line’s weak link back in Week 1. In terms of usage, aggressiveness, and efficiency, we’ve never seen anything like this before. The stats speak for themselves, and his team’s undefeated, making this an easy choice.
—Evan Lepler

Ryan Osgar, New York Empire
Osgar has been a volume scorer ever since he entered the league—he posted a 41-assist, 43-goal season as a rookie in 2017 with Minnesota—but in his second season in New York he has become a terminator with the disc, and is playing with laser-like precision. The Empire offense is the most efficient unit ever, and that starts with Osgar and his career-best 98.5 percent completion rate as the league leader in assists; Osgar is second in total scores (61), second in hockey assists (24), fourth in receiving yards (1995), tied for ninth in huck completions (12), and 12th in completions (265); Osgar hasn’t had a throwaway in his last five games. Surrounded by All-AUDL playmakers on the O-line, Osgar is playing like an optimized AI designed to pinpoint weaknesses in opposing defenses.
—Adam Ruffner

Rookie Of The Year

Jake Radack, Austin Sol (Pictured)
Too many choices for this one with tons of rising stars around the league, but Jake Radack has taken the Austin Sol offense to another level. Radack has quarterbacked the Sol O-line to become the fifth-most efficient unit in the league, and he currently ranks top 10 in total yards per game.
—DC

Leandro Marx, Portland Nitro
Number one in scores. Number two in total yards. Not just among rookies, but among all players in the league! At 25 years old, he’s not the prototypical rookie, but he’s still an up-and-coming young player who’s in his first AUDL season. Considering his incredible level of production, he’s the midseason pick.
—EL

Quinn Finer, Colorado Summit
The Summit have succeeded wildly as an expansion team thanks to their ridiculous raft of high-level playmakers, and Finer feels like the calm pulse at the center of Colorado’s offensive attack a lot of the time. Even as a rookie, Finer has the poise of a veteran with his throws, field sense, and timing around the disc as a receiver. He currently sits ninth in the league with 39 total scores through six games, and is second on the Summit in total yards per game (476), behind only Jonathan Nethercutt. Even as a smaller striker, Finer continually owns deep space as both a thrower and receiver on continuation looks.
—AR

Coach Of The Year

Charlie Hoppes and Anthony Nuñez, New York Empire (Pictured)
We’ll do co-coaches here. It’s easy to look at the talent of New York’s roster and say anyone can coach that team, but the way Charlie Hoppes and Anthony Nuñez have optimized rotations with this star-studded cast deserves its praise. Jagt and Davis playing D, Babbitt shifting to O, using Jack Williams like the Swiss Army knife that he is, this coaching staff has done everything right to make this team unstoppable.
—DC

Charlie Hoppes and Anthony Nuñez, New York Empire
It’s fascinating how they continue to tinker with their team, moving All-Stars around to try and discover the best version of themselves. They’ve clearly become more comfortable at the helm in year two as compared to last season, when they were attempting to lead the defending champs coming out of the pandemic.
—EL

Bryce Merrill, Salt Lake Shred
It was less than two months ago when this Shred team was one of the most unknown lineups in the league, stocked with potential but unproven talent that was anchored by a cadre of second year players. But now with road wins in San Diego and LA, and two 30-plus goal performances at home, Salt Lake feels like an established competitor in the West, largely thanks to the fine tuning and preparation by Merrill’s system.
—AR

Best Team

New York Empire (Pictured)
Undefeated. Most wins in the league. Best offense in AUDL history. I refuse to acknowledge any other pick for best team right now.
—DC

New York Empire
With all due respect to Chicago and Colorado, there’s really no debate here. The Empire’s plus-60 point-differential is nearly double the next best in the league, and New York has looked virtually unbeatable for all but a couple quarters this season.
—EL

New York Empire
Is there really any question? Not only do the Empire figure to be a them-versus-the-pack pick for this year’s championship, this 2022 New York team is figuring to be one of the best AUDL squads in league history. They’re star studded and deep, and after losing by a razor’s edge margin to Carolina in the 2021 championship game, the Empire are most importantly determined.
—AR

Best Offense

New York Empire (Pictured)
Chicago set the record for most efficient offense in league history last season by converting 64.6 percent of their offensive possessions. New York has that beat by seven percentage points right now. This O-line features a bunch of guys that just don’t make mistakes—no one on the starting offense has double digit throwaways this season.
—DC

New York Empire
Jack Williams has reached the “best ultimate player alive” conversation, Jeff Babbitt has slotted in seamlessly as a downfield striker, John Lithio has made a noticeable jump in his second season, and their two primary handlers, Elliott Chartock and Solomon Rueschemeyer-Bailey, are completing 98 percent of their throws. And that's all before mentioning the MVP.
—EL

New York Empire
The Empire the most efficient O-line ever at the midway point, and they’re also one of the most dangerous teams all-time in terms of raw scoring, too. After scoring just 39 goals in their first two games of the season, New York is unloading on opponents as the summer heats up, averaging 26 goals per game in their last six; the Empire are currently second in the league in scoring (24.4), which would be higher than any league scoring leader since 2018. And not only is the Empire O-line potent at scoring, they are terrific at locking down should they make any mistakes; New York is second in the AUDL in fewest opponent break scores allowed, surrendering less three breaks per game.
—AR

Best Defense

New York Empire
They’ve only just begun to hit their final form with the D-line adding John Randolph, Jibran Mieser, and Ben Jagt two games ago, but it sure feels like this is currently the most dangerous D-line in the league. Antoine Davis has the offensive ability to wreak havoc after turnovers, Ben Katz is a menace disrupting the backfield, and the Drost brothers continue to show why they rank first and second all-time in blocks.
—DC

New York Empire
I believe a full-strength Atlanta, Carolina, or Colorado comes close to New York, but it remains outrageous that the Empire could casually add Ben Jagt, Jibran Mieser, and John Randolph onto the D-line a couple weeks ago. These three truly world class talents, when added to the very solid core that includes Ben Katz, Marques Brownlee, Antoine Davis, and the Drost brothers, elevates New York to the top in this category too.
—EL

New York Empire
After a few weeks of adjustments—and a few star-level additions midseason—the Empire defense is just starting to operate at full power and is producing break scores at a historic rate. In their past five matchups, New York is averaging 11.8 break scores per game, which would rank fifth all-time for a whole season; switching Ben Jagt to defensive starter has made NY’s counterattack as good as almost any offense in the league. The Drost brothers are first and second all-time in takeaways, and are playing in peak form in 2022. Ben Katz continues to gum up lanes and handler sets with his intuitive poaching, while Marques Brownlee has been using his length to blanket opposing throwers.
—AR

Best Thrower

Jonathan Nethercutt, Colorado Summit (Pictured)
Sure, one could easily put Ryan Osgar here, but that’s probably enough Empire love for one article. Jonathan Nethercutt deserves recognition as the engine of the Colorado Summit offense. Field stretching hucks, tight-window laser flicks, no-look assists, he’s been the most fun thrower to watch this year and is at the core of Colorado's early season success.
—DC

Jonathan Nethercutt, Colorado Summit
The 2017 AUDL MVP is right behind Osgar in the 2022 race, thanks to his throwing arsenal remaining just as diabolical as a 30-year-old as it was five years ago. The Summit have benefitted massively from Nethercutt’s experience and leadership, and his quarterbacking prowess has clearly elevated Colorado a step above the rest of the West though the first half of the season. 
—EL

Jonathan Nethercutt, Colorado Summit
There’s always going to be the gaudy throwing stats with Nethercutt, as the seventh year quarterback is averaging nearly six assists and 450 throwing yards per game in his first season with Colorado. But what makes Nutt so standout with the Summit is the way his otherworldly throwing abilities so perfectly match the talents and spirit of the team’s receivers—swagger meets swagger. With Nethercutt ripping full-field hucks seemingly on a whim, the Colorado have emerged as the best deep attack in the AUDL able to blow the roof off of any matchup in the West right now.
—AR

Best Receiver

Greg Martin, Philadelphia Phoenix (Pictured)
I had Greg Martin here last year, and I’m happy to nominate him once again. Leading the league in goals per game with 5.2, Martin continues to impress with high-flying skies over bigger defenders, making me forever question my eyes when I see him listed at 5’10”.
—DC

Jeff Babbitt, New York Empire
The worst-kept secret among the Empire is that Babbitt’s actually the fastest guy on the team when he’s hunting a frisbee. We know his prowess on jump balls and buzzer-beaters, but it’s his truly balanced skill-set, along with throwing skills and decision-making discipline, that make him the best all-around receiver in the league. 
—EL

Leandro Marx, Portland Nitro
In his first seven games as a pro, Marx has already put himself in the class of Osgar or Tyler DeGirolamo or Mischa Freystaetter or Ben Jagt as an offensive playmaker with all-time scoring abilities. A master at freewheeling and creating plays in space, Marx is averaging a league-best 392 receiving yards per game, a rate that puts him above last season’s receiving league leader Jagt. In one-on-one matchups in space, it feels like Marx is borderline unguardable with his combination of hops, quickness, body control, and a singular tenacity of coming up with the ridiculous grab.
—AR

Best Defender

Joel Clutton, Salt Lake Shred (Pictured)
Also a candidate for Most Improved, Joel Clutton has been a tone-setter for the Salt Lake Shred defense since Week 1. Sure, Jay Froude got the better of him a couple times in their matchups last week, but Clutton mostly had his number in the first meeting, as the 6’5” deep defender started his Shred career with eight blocks in his first three games.
—DC

Joel Clutton, Salt Lake Shred
This is the toughest category to pick, in my opinion, but Clutton’s certainly worthy. His highlight reel athleticism has made him an incredible defensive weapon for the Shred, and even though he was victimized by the Summit a couple times on Friday, his consistent playmaking presence has been—literally and figuratively—gigantic for Salt Lake’s first six games.
—EL

Cody Spicer, Colorado Summit
At 6’2”, Spicer is a brutal combination of size and speed. Colorado starts much of their defensive game plan by using Spicer to negate an opposing offense’s top playmaker. Spicer’s positioning and footwork allow him to dictate plays in space, and his closeout speed makes deep shots to his matchup ill-advised at best, while giving him the ability to challenge throws underneath as well. The 30-year-old is also a freight train to deal with on the counterattack, often blitzing into space following turnovers and starting the fastbreak.
—AR

Best New Addition

Keegan North, Indianapolis AlleyCats
Plagued by a couple bad injuries to the offense, this team would be in shambles if it weren’t for Keegan North rejoining the team after spending 2021 with Chicago. North averages the third-most scores (8.8) and sixth-most total yards per game (635.6) in the league, as he’s consistently generated offense as the AlleyCats’ most dangerous thrower and receiver. Indy’s biggest loss—13-28 to Minnesota—came when North was out of the lineup.
—DC

Oscar Stonehouse, Toronto Rush
The 18-year-old Rush rookie is averaging five scores per contest and only has two throwaways in seven games. Choosing to ignore the three expansion teams under the premise that all of their players are “new” but not “additions,” Stonehouse fits the spirit of this honor as a potential franchise cornerstone for the decade ahead.
—EL

Jordan Kerr, Salt Lake Shred (Pictured)
After an impressive rookie season with the Spiders in 2021, Kerr has taken a leap forward back in the comforts of the Salt Lake offensive system, and is second in the league in assists (43) while looking like a potential MVP finalist. When Kerr is on, the Shred offense looks as potent as any unit in the league, especially when Kerr is shooting the disc up the left rail as a thrower on continuation routes.
—AR

Most Improved

James Pollard, Philadelphia Phoenix (Pictured)
No longer a pulling and buzzer-beater specialist, O-line James Pollard has been a revelation for a Phoenix squad making significant noise in the East Division. Defenses have just had no answer for the 6’5” hybrid. Force him towards the disc, and he unlocks the offense with huge continuation hucks. Force him downfield, and he overpowers opponents with his size and speed. This is only the beginning for Big Game James.
—DC

Jordan Kerr, Salt Lake Shred
A lot of players have made strides, and I thought about Austin’s Kyle Henke and Carolina’s Alex Davis here, but Kerr has been a machine for the Shred. He had 52 scores in 11 games for the Spiders last year, and he’s already produced 56 in just six games for Salt Lake. His MVP candidacy may have taken a hit based upon what happened this past Friday, but he’s still had an unbelievable first half of the season.
—EL

James Pollard, Philadelphia Phoenix
Pollard has always impressed as a defensive puller and playmaker in space, and for his flashes as a thrower the past two seasons. But in his fourth season as a pro, Pollard is putting it all together on the Phoenix offense. At 6’5”, Pollard is able to operate as both a big target receiver, and as a powerful continuation passer, often finding Greg Martin on the receiving end of his rocket throws. Pollard remains one of the best end-of-quarter players in the division, if not the league as a whole, and has won momentum time and again at the buzzer for Philly.
—AR

All-AUDL First Team

Jay Froude
Ben Jagt
Jordan Kerr
Leandro Marx
Jonathan Nethercutt
Ryan Osgar
Austin Taylor
—DC

Jeff Babbitt
Ben Jagt
Jordan Kerr
Leandro Marx
Jonathan Nethercutt
Ryan Osgar
Austin Taylor
—EL

Jay Froude
Leandro Marx
Ben Jagt
Jordan Kerr
Jon Nethercutt
Ryan Osgar
James Pollard
—AR

All Defense

Abe Coffin
Joel Clutton
Nate Goff
Ben Jagt
Ben Katz
Alex Tatum
Phil Turner
—DC

Joel Clutton
Ryan Drost
Nate Goff
Ben Jagt
Ben Katz
Drew Swanson
Max Trifillis
—EL

Marques Brownlee
Joel Clutton
Dylan DeClerck
Nate Goff
Ben Katz
Suraj Madiraju
Cody Spicer
—AR

All Rookie

Alex Atkins
Quinn Finer
Leandro Marx
Declan Miller
Jake Radack
Oscar Stonehouse
Luke Yorgason
—DC

Quinn Finer
Leandro Marx
Declan Miller
Jake Radack
Will Selfridge
Everest Shapiro
Oscar Stonehouse
—EL

Alex Atkins
Quinn Finer
Leandro Marx
Declan Miller
Jake Radack
Oscar Stonehouse
Chad Yorgason
—AR

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